Fantasy Football / NFL
- Details
- Written by Ken Payne
Week 8 Sleeper Starts
With so many options to choose from, sometimes fielding a fantasy lineup can be quite the headache. Obvious are the starts akin to Antonio Brown, Brandon Marshall, Matthew Stafford, Andrew Luck and the games other bigger names. However, it’s the tougher choices – namely the less obvious starts – that will end up winning your league.
Here are a few names you might want to consider:
Alex Smith QB Kansas City – Alex Smith has been just ok so far this year. Like so often when he played in San Francisco, Smith is more of a game manager than a passer. In leagues that play two quarterbacks, this week could be the opportune time to take a chance on Smith as he gets the hapless St. Louis Rams at home – a team whose defense is highly disappointing this season, especially against the pass. Top target Dwayne Bowe hasn’t been exactly lighting it up, but did show his presence in Week 7 against San Diego grabbing 5 catches for 84 yards – a good sign for Smith owners. Let’s not forget that RB Jamaal Charles always has the capability to turn a short catch into a long play. Too many indicators point to Smith being a decent play and solid WR2 for Week 8.
Bryce Brown RB Buffalo – We all know what Bryce Brown is capable of doing in a game. With 564 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns in limited game time while filling in for an injured LeSean McCoy in 2012, we got a good taste of the kind of talent Brown has. Brown hasn’t since done very much waiting in the wings behind McCoy before getting moved to Buffalo this season where he has been sitting behind two very serviceable backs in Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller. Now Spiller is out until at least Week 16 with a collarbone injury and a less effective than past Jackson could be out up to four weeks with a groin issue. That leaves Buffalo to rely on Brown. Brown has the opportunity to really show what he can do in the next few weeks and though this week’s matchup at NY Jets isn’t the greatest, he should still put up numbers to qualify him as a decent RB2, especially if he can gain QB Kyle Orton’s confidence early and get targets in the short passing game. Brown has big play ability.
Darren McFadden RB Oakland – McFadden only has 14 carries in each of his last two games but has tallied an above pedestrian 128 rushing yards with a touchdown. This week I suspect will McFadden get more carries and he has a juicy match-up at Cleveland who rank 25 against running backs this season. There is all kinds of potential for McFadden to put up fair numbers this week as neither team is known for slinging the ball around setting the table for a big run game on both ends. McFadden is a fill in option only as a RB3, but don’t be surprised if he exceeds expectations this week.
Mike Wallace WR Miami – Anytime a player goes up against Jacksonville this year, you have to take a close look. This week Wallace gets his chance and he should deliver big numbers. Scoring a touchdown in his last three games, Wallace has gotten fantasy owners double digits in points during that stretch and there is no reason to think he won’t do it again this week. This week would probably also be a good bet for Wallace to finally reach the 100-yard-plus receiving mark, as he has failed to do so far this season. Wallace is a nice WR2 with big WR1 potential.
Eric Decker WR NY Jets – Keep an eye on Decker’s status. He has played with a bum hamstring the past two games but has still managed 10 catches on 17 targets. Now that all purpose wide receiver Percy Harvin enters the fold, Decker could find himself open for QB Geno Smith far more often. Decker should certainly benefit from the surprising acquisition of Harvin and this week’s matchup against Buffalo would have been quite enticing anyway since their defense is ranked 24 against the wide receiver position. Despite a struggling Smith at the helm, Decker could be a decent WR2 in Week 8.
Gavin Escobar TE Dallas – Tightend Jason Witten’s numbers are dwindling while counterpart Gavin Escobar has snagged 3 touchdowns in the past two games. Witten will certainly get more targets moving up and down the field but Escobar has clearly shown his ability to get open in the endzone where a battle-weary Witten may have finally lost a step. There are plenty of decent tightend plays out there for Week 8, but if you are having injury or bye week issues, Escobar could be worth a shot for a touchdown grab or more. Escobar could be a nice fill in option – keep him on your radar.
- Details
- Written by Vince Foss
Welcome to another edition of my favorite memes of the week. So I knew this day would come.... Kirk Cousins is no longer the starting QB for the Redskins. I just thought it would be because the man that is being paid a ton of money to be the QB would be healthy.... not the case. Let me start off this week with a couple of Redskins themed memes.
I guess RG3 was doomed from the start. I just don't remember these being toys at McDonalds. Maybe I would get the kids meal more often. In other news, even though the name situation is getting nowhere, the Redskins thought it still was time for a change...
- Details
- Written by Tad Bukowski
Welcome back! We had another solid week in Week 7, but still could have been better.
Time to see what Week 8 has in store for us!
Week 8! HERE WE GO!!
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
15 – KANSAS CITY over St. Louis – The Rams got a home win against the champs last week, but they needed a lot of trickery to do so. You can’t rely on that every week.
14 – DALLAS over Washington – The Cowboys seem to be the real deal this season. It looks like Colt McCoy will be under center for the ‘Skins Monday Night – that’s a good reason to have a lot of confidence in Dallas this week.
13 – DENVER over San Diego – Peyton and the boys have given us no reason to think that we should have anything but a lot of confidence in them at home. The Chargers may keep this close, but a home loss last week showed that San Diego has some chinks in the armor.
12 – NEW ENGLAND over Chicago – The good news for the Patriots is that they get a home game this week…the good news for the Bears is that they DON’T have a home game this week! Seriously, the Blackhawks have more wins in Soldier Field than the Bears do in 2014! Tom Brady is starting to look like the old Tom Brady which isn’t good news for a depleted Chicago secondary.
11 – Miami over JACKSONVILLE – Miami looked really impressive on the road last week. The Fins may be able to make a strong run at the division this season. The Jags are coming off of their first win of the season last week – hard to see them make it two in a row this week.
10 – CINCINNATI over Baltimore – The Bengals are just confusing this year. A lot of the offensive problems, though, revolve around AJ Green and his toe. If he plays, it will be hard to stop Cincy.
9 – ARIZONA over Philadelphia – Hard to imagine but there is an outside chance that this could very well be your NFC Championship game! With Carson Palmer playing the way he is, the Cardinals offense will be able to outscore the Eagles.
8 – NEW YORK JETS over Buffalo – The Jets were a field goal away from an upset in Foxboro last Thursday and the Bills just barely got by half of the Minnesota Vikings at home. The Jets have been close in most of their losses this season – I think this is the week they cross the line.
7 – Seattle over CAROLINA – If you listen closely, you can hear the Packers score on the Panthers again! That game was brutal! It doesn’t get any better as an upset Seahawks team comes to Charlotte. After losing to the Rams, Seattle will be pumped to show they are still the cream of the crop.
6 – Houston over TENNESSEE – Titans fans have started the “Suck for the Duck” campaign (meaning tank the year in order to draft Oregon star quarterback Marcus Mariota) and it looks like the team is obliging. Arian Foster will run all over the Titans so much so that my BOLD PREDICTION is that Arian Foster will have a 200 yard game.
5 – CLEVELAND over Oakland – After looking drastically improved two weeks ago, the Raiders reminded us last week that they are indeed still the Raiders. Look for a huge game for Ben Tate which will allow the Browns to control the game and get the win.
4 – Indianapolis over PITTSBURGH – The Steelers have been very hit or miss this season. Last week they hit and this week the Colts will make sure they miss.
3 – Green Bay over NEW ORLEANS – Sunday Night Football has a shootout on their hands this week. The only thing scarier than the thought of a Saints offense in the dome is this Packer offense in the dome. Rodgers has the team and city R-E-L-A-X ing to the tune of four straight wins averaging over 36 points in that span. Look for win number five this week.
2 – ATLANTA over Detroit – London game number two comes up this week with the Falcons and Lions. Here’s the kicker – the game will be played in prime LONDON time, which translates to a 9:30 a.m. EST kickoff in the states. I’ll be sleeping to the coin told me the Falcons will win.
1 - Minnesota over TAMPA BAY – This could have been a decent game. Unfortunately half of the Vikings offense is gone and the Bucs just can’t seem to get it going. The Vikings were close on the road last week so we’ll give them our one-point line this week.
- Details
- Written by Shawn Foss
Welcome back to the Rookie Report! I hope all you Sammy Watkins owners out there took my advice and fired him up last week as he crushed the Vikings. Last week was a coming out party for a couple more rookies, Tre Mason and Martavis Bryant, and we may have gotten another step closer to Johnny Football getting his shot in Cleveland. There is one rookie QB who looks to be getting his first career start this week, and it isn’t Manziel. It’s LSU product Zach Mettenberger. I’m not sure if this is a permanent move or if it’s just because Locker’s not as ready to go as previously reported, but it looks like Mett will get a chance to take the job and run with it. Let’s take a look at what to expect from him and the rest of the rookies for week 8…
Rookies to Start:
RB Jerick McKinnon, MIN (Wk. 8: @TB): McKinnon had a very impressive game against a stout Buffalo run defense in week 7, and he gets a much more enticing matchup with the Bucs in week 8. Tampa is allowing a robust 165 yards from scrimmage per game to opposing running backs, and McKinnon is a good bet to see at least 75% of the touches out of the Vikings’ backfield. He’s a good bet to hit triple-digit total yards again and is also likely to find the end zone. He’s a solid RB2 option this week.
RB Branden Oliver, SD (Wk. 8: @Den.): Oliver isn’t quite the slam dunk play that he was the past couple weeks, but I’d still feel very comfortable with him as a flex option this week, and might be willing to trot him out as an RB2. The Broncos have allowed a league-low 310 rush yards to opposing RBs and under 3 yards per carry, but San Diego rode a run-heavy attack in a Thursday night game against Denver last year to pull off an upset win. I’d expect a similar strategy this week, so Oliver should be plenty involved to be worth a fantasy play despite the tough matchup.
WR Sammy Watkins, BUF (Wk. 8: @NYJ): Watkins is a must-start this week against the rag-tag Jets’ secondary. They were getting exposed before Dee Milliner went down with injury. Things are likely to get worse with him gone. Watkins shredded the Vikings last week, and he shouldn’t have much trouble doing the same this week. He remains the focal point of the Bills’ passing game and should be a very solid WR2 vs. the Jets.
WR Kelvin Benjamin, CAR (Wk. 8: vs. Sea.): If ever there was a week where Benjamin wasn’t an automatic start, this is probably it, but I’d still trot him out there as a WR3. The Seahawks secondary is still formidable, but Richard Sherman rarely leaves his left side. He did shadow the top receiver against Dallas, but that was Dez Bryant. I doubt the rookie gets the same sort of respect. The Panthers should be smart enough to not line KB up against Sherman, so he should again be a safe play for fantasy purposes. He remains the number one option in the passing game.
Borderline Rookies:
QB Teddy Bridgewater, MIN (Wk. 8: @TB): Teddy gets a juicy matchup this week with Tampa. The Bucs allow 71.4% of passes thrown against them to be completed, and the defense has had several breakdowns and growing pains as they learn the Lovie Smith cover 2 defense. Teddy should pick them apart at the intermediate level. This is as good a matchup as Teddy might see all year. The Bucs allow 20 points per game to opposing QBs, and Bridgewater should be a high-end QB 2 this week.
RB Isaiah Crowell, CLE (Wk. 8: vs. Oak.): The matchup is excellent. The Raiders allow the 2nd most fantasy points to opposing RBs behind only Atlanta, giving up almost 23 points per game. Ben Tate struggled for much of last week’s game vs. the Jaguars, so there’s a chance Crowell sees some extra work. I love Crowell’s chances of finding paydirt this week, but there’s always the chance he ends up with just 20-30 yards. He’s riskier in PPR since he’s a non-factor in the passing game. Cro is a high-risk, high-reward flex option this week. Terrance West is still not worth a start.
RB Bishop Sankey, TEN (Wk. 8: vs. Hou.): The Texans have been gashed on the ground this year, but Sankey is still really hard to trust. He’s just a flex option this week in a plus matchup. His lack of use in the passing game is especially troubling. I get that McCluster is more of a receiver than Sankey, but he should still have seen more than just one target last week. His floor is much higher than Crowell’s, but his ceiling is lower.
RB Tre Mason, STL (Wk. 8: @KC): It looks like Mason will get 1st crack at the bulk of the carries this week after having a big game last week against the Seahawks. The Rams are a run-first team, but the KC defense has been stingy to opposing backs. Thanks to the fact that he might lose the hot hand this week and in turn lose carries, Mason makes a dicey flex option this week. I do love his running style though. He has great vision, doesn’t dance around in the backfield and always seems to fall forward.
WR Brandin Cooks, NO (Wk. 8: vs. GB): Cooks was a big disappointment in week 7. With Jimmy Graham VERY limited, Cooks saw just 3 targets and caught just 2. We’ll chalk it up to the inconsistency of rookies, but his standard league value is nowhere near his PPR value right now. He flashed big play abilities and downfield receiving skills in college (similar to Steve Smith), but they haven’t shown up at the NFL level yet. He’s still an asset and a decent WR3 in PPR, but he’s getting harder to trust in standard leagues until the Saints start to get him a little further downfield on some of his targets.
WR Mike Evans, TB (Wk. 8: vs. Min.): The Vikings sport a middling defense vs. fantasy WRs (#17 in the NFL), but with Glennon at the helm, V-Jax comes first in this offense. Evans, like usual, is a safe bet for around 50 yards with an ok shot at a touchdown. His upside is limited right now.
WR Jarvis Landry, MIA (Wk. 8: @Jax.): Landry is now cemented as the slot receiver in Miami with Brandon Gibson being a healthy scratch in week 7. His hands have been very reliable, and only the Ravens have allowed more WR receiving yards than the Jaguars. Landry should be a very solid WR3 option for PPR leagues this week, and has some boom or bust standard league appeal.
WR Allen Robinson, JAX (Wk. 8: vs. Mia.): On the other side of the ‘Phins-Jags game, Allen Robinson has earned every-week consideration as a WR3, especially in PPR leagues. The matchup is a tough one this week, but like Seattle, Miami lets their top corner play his side of the field more often than not. The Jaguars should find ways to keep Robinson away from Brent Grimes. He should be a decent bet again for 4-5 catches and 60 yards, and he could find a garbage time TD as well.
WR Davante Adams, GB (Wk. 8: @NO): Don’t be too worried about Adams’s unproductive week 7. Instead, be excited that he still played over 75% of the Packers’ offensive snaps with Jarrett Boykin back healthy. Aaron Rodgers is flat out dealing right now, so Adams remains a boom or bust WR3 option every week.
Rookies to Sit:
QB Zach Mettenberger, TEN (Wk. 8: vs. Hou.): The Texans’ defense is merely middle-of-the-road against opposing QBs, and Mett has some intriguing upside with his big arm, but facing off with J.J. Watt in your first NFL start could be a harrowing experience. The Texans should be good enough to give the rookie signal caller trouble this week, and I’d view Mett as no more than a bottom end QB2 this week. The Titans’ O hasn’t been sharp in general this year.
QB Derek Carr, OAK (Wk. 8: @Cle.): The Raiders’ offense has certainly improved since Tony Sparano took over as interim coach, but the Browns’ pass defense is better than you might think against the pass. They’ve allowed a 9:7 TD-INT ratio and can still get pressure on the QB with Mingo and Paul Kruger. Carr is a roll of the dice QB2 this week.
QB Blake Bortles, JAX (Wk. 8: vs. Mia.): The ‘Phins are a top-5 defense vs. opposing QBs, and Bortles has been very turnover-prone in his young career. It’s an easy call to avoid this matchup.
RB Jeremy Hill, CIN (Wk. 8: vs. Bal.): It seems likely that A.J. Green will give it a go this weekend, likely causing the Bengals to lean less on the ground game. It’s probably a good week for that since the Ravens are tied with Buffalo for the fewest fantasy points allowed to opposing RBs. Hill needs a TD to make playing him worth it, and the Ravens have allowed just 2 RB touchdowns all year. You have to sit Hill this week.
RB Storm Johnson, JAX (Wk. 8: vs. Mia.): The Dolphins can be run on, but Denard Robinson will undoubtedly lead the way in the Jaguars’ backfield committee this week. Storm won’t see enough touches to warrant fantasy consideration.
WR John Brown, ARI (Wk. 8: vs. Phi.): The Philly D has been very beatable, allowing 24.5 points per game to opposing WRs, but they haven’t been beatable in the slot where CB Brandon Boykin patrols. This could be a big week for Floyd and Fitz, but it’s not a good spot to sneak in Brown hoping for a big week against a suspect secondary.
WRs Marqise Lee & Allen Hurns, JAX (Wk. 8: vs. Mia.): Hurns’s role has been greatly diminished with Cecil Shorts coming back healthy, and although Lee is starting to get involved, he’s still just the 4th option in the passing game at best. There won’t be enough to go around this week for Lee to be worth a try.
WR Martavis Bryant, PIT (Wk. 8: vs. Ind.): Bryant was active for the first time in week 7, and rewarded the Steelers with a long-ish TD catch. He’s certainly pushing the underachieving Markus Wheaton for the number 2 job, but the Colts allow a league-low 12.6 points per game to opposing WRs. Antonio Brown is going to get his points. Do you really think there will be enough to go around for Bryant to be productive as well? I don’t.
TE Jace Amaro, NYJ (Wk. 8: vs. Buf.): No rookie TE is worth starting this week. Amaro has the best matchup of he, Ebron and ASJ, but the Bills still allow just 6 points per game to opposing TEs, and the addition of Percy Harvin may cut into Amaro’s targets. Eventually, Harvin may just draw attention away from Jace and give him some room to operate over the middle, but with Harvin playing limited snaps to start out, that won’t happen immediately.
Rookies on Byes: RB Andre Williams, NYG, RB Carlos Hyde, SF, WR Odell Beckham Jr., NYG
Deep League Sleepers:
QB Johnny Manziel, CLE (Wk. 8: vs. Oak.): Browns’ head coach Mike Pettine admitted after last week’s embarrassing loss to the Jaguars that he briefly considered going to Manziel in that game. He issued a vote of confidence for Hoyer in that same presser, but once you’ve opened up Manziel as a possibility, it doesn’t take all that much to make it a reality. I think Hoyer bounces back this week, but if he doesn’t, a poor performance against the 0-6 Raiders could be enough to get Johnny Football under center.
WR Donte Moncrief, IND (Wk. 8: @Pit.): Reggie Wayne is likely out this week despite reports that he is day-to-day, and Moncrief has been steadily pushing closer to overtaking Hakeem Nicks for the number 3 WR job already. If Wayne is out, Moncrief has some nice upside in a game against a Pittsburgh team that has allowed over 1,000 yards to opposing WRs this year. Moncrief is a volatile WR3 option this week that a ballsy owner could make pay off big.
WR Paul Richardson, SEA (Wk. 8: @Car.): Richardson is the one guy on Seattle’s roster who can come close to matching Percy Harvin’s explosiveness, and he’ll do it without the ego. The trade should open up a role for Richardson as a gadget player and a deep threat in the passing game. Doug Baldwin will certainly be the top option, but Richardson could have some big weeks a la Jermaine Kearse a season ago. This week has the potential to be one of those for him as the Seahawks draw the Carolina Panthers. Carolina has allowed the 4th most WR points per game in the NFL.
That’s all I’ve got for this week. Hopefully some of the insight above can help you secure a W. I’ll leave you the same way I always do: Good luck, trust your gut, and have fun. It’s just a game.
- Details
- Written by Jason Evans
Week 7 featured all kinds of fun, a couple of broken records (the good kind), trick plays, last minute victories and Cecil Shorts and Barkevious Mingo on the field at the same time (a drinkfive wet dream).
- I would be remiss in my duties if I did not start this article without Peyton Manning's record breaking night. Brett Favre, the former record holder, threw 508 TD's in his career, spanning 302 games (1.68 per game). As of Sunday night, Peyton Manning now has 510 TD's in only 246 games (2.07 per game). If Manning continues at this clip and plays as many games as Favre, he will finish his career with 626 TD's. Absolutely crazy.
- The Jaguars can win, after all. With their victory over the up-and-down Browns came a glimmer of hope with their run game. Denard Robinson came to life when given a full workload. 22 attempts netted him 127 yards and 1 touchdown, but more importantly, it may have netted him the starting spot in Jacksonville. The Jags are desperate for stability anywhere, and look for them to go with the hot hand approach. Robinson will be a very popular waiver wire addition this week.
- Jerick McKinnon had another good showing, even if his team did not. McKinnon had 19 carries for 103 yards against Buffalo, a team with a tough run defense. McKinnon's match-ups coming up are against Tampa, Washington and Chicago. Buy low on him and take advantage of the weaker part of Minnesota's schedule.
- Ever since Aaron Rodgers told the good folks of Wisconsin to just "relax", they've done nothing but win games. Putting up 38 or more points in three of the last four games, Rodgers has thrown for 13 TD's during that span. Jordy Nelson has also catapulted to the top of the league in receiving yards (though Antonio Brown can pass him with a good game Monday night).
- The Bears continue to struggle at home and are now 0-3 there on the season. It's really the same story we always hear. Cutler struggled and Matt Forte put up numbers anyways. Forte does have two down games this year, but every other game he scored 17 or more points, going for over 20 in his last three games. This kind of consistency is very rewarding with all of the turmoil at the top of the RB draft board this year.
- The Bengals became the third team this season to be shut-out. After having none the first four weeks of the season, we've now seen one three weeks in a row. The Bengals are by far the best offense to be shut down during that stretch, but I think credit needs to be given to the Colts defense. The Colts limited the Bengals to 8 first downs, 135 total yards on offense and the Bengals didn't have a snap in Colts territory until well into the 4th quarter, on a drive that resulted in no points. They only sniffed it once more at the end of the game for just a moment.
- Jeff Fisher has a lot of special teams tricks, and he decided that the best time to showcase them was when the Super Bowl champs came to town. The Rams handed Seattle their second loss in a row, something that Russell Wilson has only experienced once before in his career. The fake punt deep in your own end at the end of the game probably took more balls than brains, but the play I'm in love with is the punt return. The punt return in the second quarter faked out nearly the entire Seahawks special teams unit, which is bizarre considering they ought to know what side of the field their punter is kicking it to.
- One thing from the other side of that game became apparent as well. Russell Wilson is shaping up to be an elite fantasy QB. Two games over 34 points this year and only one game with a low of 11 have him up to 142 points on the season, good for fifth overall. Keep in mind, he has already had his bye week and three of the guys ahead of him have not taken a break yet. Wilson is definitely on pace to finish this season as a top 5 guy.
- The Cowboys keep rolling and Demarco Murray is leading the way. With his record breaking seventh 100 yard game to start the season, he has an astounding 913 yards through 7 games. He has not scored below 17.1 points this season, making him one of the best weekly guarantee since Arian Foster in 2010, heck, maybe since LaDainian Tomlinson's golden years. Expect Murray to stay match-up proof and hope they keep riding him as much as they have, because hey, fantasy football only lasts a year at a time.
- Back to the Broncos, who had a stellar night which might have been overshadowed by Peyton's big record. Demaryius Thomas is living up to his draft position, maybe more than most first/early second rounders. He started slow, but after the bye has scored 34, 18 and 29 points over the last three weeks. In fact, he's the only thing keeping Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb from being the top two fantasy receivers by points.
- Details
- Written by Vince Foss
Another week in the books and I thought it would be fun this week to post some classic memes that at one time were true but now seem like possible jokes of the past. Dallas may get over the 8-8 slump they have been in the last 3 seasons.... Philip Rivers actually looks like a fantasy stud again.... Cleveland is looking good with a back-up.... and Detroit is still in first (still without a kicker as well). It has been a fun season thus far (minus some very bad off the field issues) and I don't imagine it slowing down. Without further ado...
These Bengals will not only win the division this year but I see them going on a playoff run. Andy may be worth the money after all....
I'm pretty sure Rivers can put the marker down now. No equations needed to figure out what went wrong, these Chargers look set to make a run for the division as well as possibly more.
This one makes me laugh every time I read it. Now I don't see the browns doing much in any kind of playoff discussions but I am impressed with the way they have played as of late.
- Details
- Written by Tad Bukowski
To sum up this week, well, it’s home sweet home.
Even though we saw a bit of a kink in what many consider to be the best home stadium in the league when the Cowboys won in Seattle (called the Cowboys to win the East…just saying) I still feel that a home game means the most in the NFL than any other league.
It should show this week. I can see 80% of home teams winning this week, and two of the three potential road wins really are toss ups.
But THAT’S why they play the games!
WEEK 7 – HERE WE GO!!!!
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
15 – NEW ENGLAND over New York Jets – New England playing the Jets on a Thursday night…I know I’m not the only one that immediately thinks of the infamous “Butt Fumble.” This game won’t be as embarrassing, but it won’t be too far off.
14 – DALLAS over New York Giants – How ‘bout them Cowboys? If ever there is a way to show that you are a legitimate contender, it’s going to Seattle and coming back with a win. After another big offensive loss last week with the Victor Cruz injury, the Giants just can’t keep up with this rejuvenated Dallas team.
13 – GREEN BAY over Carolina – The way to score on the Packers is to run the ball. This could mean another big game for Cam Newton but he won’t be able to keep up with the Packers offense.
12 – DENVER over San Francisco – The 9ers looked good in the national spotlight last week. But that was in St. Louis – this is in Denver…BIG difference. Peyton Manning will be looking to break the NFL’s record for most TD passes so the Broncos’ offense will be firing on all cylinders.
11 – Seattle over ST. LOUIS – Some doubts on the Seahawks’ dominance have come up this week after a home loss. Pretty easy to see that they will use this as motivation and the Rams just don’t have enough to stop Seattle.
10 – BUFFALO over Minnesota – Other than one good game against the Falcons, the Vikings haven’t really given us a reason to be too confident in them. This is more of a lack of confidence in Minnesota than strong confidence in the Bills.
9 – WASHINGTON over Tennessee – Reports are starting to come out that RGIII could be ready to go in a few weeks. This means that time is running out on Kirk Cousins to show his stuff. Lucky for him he just has the Titans defense to worry about this week.
8 – SAN DIEGO over Kansas City – San Diego has sat comfortably in the top 5 of most power rankings for the last few weeks now. After a near loss to the lowly Raiders, look for the Chargers to step their game up against another divisional opponent.
7 – CHICAGO over Miami – It’s hard to call a team a contender when they haven’t won a game at home yet. Surprisingly, Soldier Field has not been too friendly to the Bears this season. Chicago needs to get that monkey off their back and should be able to against the Dolphins.
6 – DETROIT over New Orleans – Both teams come in hurting at the receiver position. The Lions, though, seem to have a defense that can contain the remaining Saints. Matthew Stafford’s inconsistency is the only reason that the Lions aren’t higher on the list.
5 – INDIANAPOLIS over Cincinnati – This could very well be an AFC title game preview. Expect a high scoring affair in this one. With the Bengals missing a key part of their offense in AJ Green, the Colts should be able come out on top in this shootout.
4 – Houston over PITTSBURGH – Houston made a valiant comeback after digging such a deep hole last week against the Colts. They have been in every game so far this year and I just don’t think the Steelers have what it takes to keep a team like the Texans down.
3 – BALTIMORE over Atlanta – Two teams that have been really hard to figure out this season. The Ravens, though, should be able to ride the momentum of a huge offensive outbreak last week to keep the Falcons struggling.
2 – Cleveland over JACKSONVILLE – Don’t look now, but the Browns might just make a playoff push. With a favorable schedule the next few weeks, they could very well be a 6-2 team! I’m still a little hesitant to put a lot of confidence on them on the road though – even if it is in Jacksonville.
1 – OAKLAND over Arizona – Oakland looked much better than they had all year in the first game of the Tony Sparano regime. So much so that this week’s BOLD PREDICTION will be that the Raiders will win their first game of the season this week.
- Details
- Written by Shawn Foss
Welcome back to the Rookie Report! Week 6 clearly demonstrated just how fickle the fortunes of fantasy rookies can be. Teddy Bridgewater and Sammy Watkins hit huge speed bumps, Bishop Sankey continued to struggle to breakout, Storm Johnson ran like every other Jacksonville running back, and Eric Ebron continued to under-perform with Calvin Johnson on the shelf. It wasn't all bad for the rooks though. Derek Carr had his biggest game of the season, Jeremy Hill, Isaiah Crowell and Jarvis Landry each found the end zone, Jace Amaro pulled in double-digit receptions and a score as well, Branden Oliver had another big game, and Jerick McKinnon finally looks like the starter in Minnesota. There should be plenty more rookie fun in store this week, so let’s dive in and talk about what to expect in week 7.
Rookies to start:
RB Branden Oliver, SD (Wk. 7: vs. KC): His match-up isn't quite as sweet this week, but the Chargers have been committed to the run game and Oliver has been far more effective than Donald Brown. He should be a very safe RB2 option this week, and maybe even a low-end RB1 in PPR leagues. Start him
RB Andre Williams, NYG (Wk. 7: @Dal.): If the Giants want to beat Dallas, they’ll have to get the run game going, and Rashad Jennings is out again this week. Williams is a punishing runner who will surprise Dallas with his physicality. I like his chances of being a decent RB2 this week and an excellent flex option. If he doesn't at least come close to 20 touches, I’d be very surprised.
WR Kelvin Benjamin, CAR (Wk. 7: @GB): Kelvin has earned must-start status every week. Green Bay’s offense should keep Carolina throwing, and Benjamin should be trotted out there as a very safe WR2 in fantasy again this week.
WR Brandin Cooks, NO (Wk. 7: @Det.): The Saints might be without Jimmy Graham this week, and the Lions have a ferocious pass rush that dropped Teddy Bridgewater 8 times last week. Look for the Saints to get Cooks involved early in the short passing game to counter Detroit’s pressure. He might even see a couple rushing attempts. He’s a solid WR2 option in PPR leagues and WR3 in standard ones.
WR Sammy Watkins, BUF (Wk. 7: vs. Min.): Don’t be scared away by last week’s rough game from Sammy. He was matched up against Darrelle Revis all day. He won’t face anyone that imposing against the Vikings, and he saw at least 8 targets in each of the previous 4 games before last week. I’d expect close to double-digit targets again, and I like his chances to turn in a strong fantasy day. Orton certainly makes him a better fantasy play than E.J. ever did.
Borderline Rookies:
QB Derek Carr, OAK (Wk. 7: vs. Ari.): Carr finally escapes the “Rookies to Sit” category. With Tony Sparano in charge as the interim head coach, the playbook was opened up and Carr was unleashed a bit against SD. The Arizona matchup is an interesting one. The Cards bring pressure a high percentage of the time and trust their corners to win one-on-one matchups. Carr struggled against pressure in college, but he’s responded well to it at this level. There will be a chance for Carr to have a nice day with crafty James Jones and physical freak Andre Holmes finding ways to get open. I like Carr as a low-end QB2 with upside for more.
QB Blake Bortles, JAX (Wk. 7: vs. Cle.): Like Carr, Bortles is fodder for 2 QB leagues. I like Carr better this week. Bortles has the better match-up, and he’s built a great rapport with Cecil Shorts and Allen Robinson, but the Jags’ lack of a running game will keep Bortles no more than a low-end QB2.
RB Bishop Sankey, TEN (Wk. 7: @Was.): Sankey has been absolutely maddening to anyone who owns him. Coach Ken Whisenhunt claims that “nerves” factored into Sankey’s slow start last week against Jacksonville, but Whiz still sprinkled in too much Dexter McCluster and Leon Washington for Sankey’s owners to feel good starting him against the #5 defense vs. fantasy RBs. There’s plenty of upside for Bishop, but plenty of risk too.
RB Isaiah Crowell, CLE (Wk. 7: @Jax.): Crowell was very impressive as a runner last week against Pittsburgh, putting up 77 yards and a TD on just 11 carries. He would be breathing down Ben Tate’s neck for the starting gig right now if not for 2 fumbles, but he’s still going to get his work and could torch the Jaguars’ terrible defense. He could end up with just 20-30 yards, or he could blow up. The talent is real.
RB Jeremy Hill, CIN (Wk. 7: @Ind.): The Colts allow the 7th most fantasy points to opposing RBs, and the Bengals should continue to lean on their running backs with A.J. Green likely out another week. There is a risk of Cincy falling behind in this one and having to throw more than they’d like, but Hill should see 10-15 touches, which normally makes him a decent bet for a TD.
RB Jerick McKinnon, MIN (Wk. 7: @Buf.): McKinnon finally has leaped over Matt Asiata on the depth chart, out-touching the plodding Asiata 18-3 against Detroit. This week, he faces off against the best defense in the league against opposing RBs. The volume should be there for him to be an OK flex option though. The Vikes should look to run as much as possible to keep Bridgewater upright after he was sacked 8 times last week.
WR Davante Adams, GB (Wk. 7: vs. Car.): Adams role continued to increase last week. He remains a boom or bust WR3 option, but he’s good a decent chance to boom this week against the lackluster Panthers’ secondary. Carolina has allowed the 6th most fantasy points to opposing WRs.
WR Odell Beckham Jr., NYG (Wk. 7: @Dal.): The stats would say that this isn't a good match-up for Beckham, but we can just throw out the stats when the Cowboys and Giants get together. I feel like this game will be a bit tougher for the Cowboys, and I actually really like Beckham as a decent flex option this week.
WR Allen Robinson, JAX (Wk. 7: vs. Cle.): I like Robinson this week in PPR leagues. He’s been surprisingly steady since week 2, averaging 5.8 catches and 62.2 yards per game over his past 5 with at least 4 catches and 6 targets in each game. I like his chances to at least get to his averages in a game that will likely have the Jaguars throwing.
WR Jarvis Landry, MIA (Wk. 7: @Chi.): Landry is seemingly gaining more and more trust from Ryan Tannehill each week, and he found the end zone for the first time last week. His efficiency has been impressive, with 18 catches on 25 targets in the past 4 games. This game has shootout potential, so Landry could approach the 6-75-1 line he registered last week and should be a reasonable WR3 option in PPR leagues.
TE Jace Amaro, NYJ (Wk. 7: @NE): Despite his breakout last week, Amaro is more of a 2TE league option. The Patriots do a good job of taking away a team’s best options. I still think Geno peppers him with targets again, making him a guy you could roll the dice on in 12-team PPR leagues, but he’s a risky play this week.
Rookies to Sit:
QB Teddy Bridgewater, MIN (Wk. 7: @Buf.): I believe in Teddy’s talent, but this matchup is daunting. The Vikings haven’t thrown a passing TD in the past 4 weeks and the Bills haven’t allowed a rushing TD all season. I’d like to believe that Bridgewater will find a way to throw his first career TD pass this week, but I can’t say with certainty he will. He’s coming off a 3 interception, 8 sack game against Detroit and gets another good pass rush this week.
RB Storm Johnson, JAX (Wk. 7: vs. Cle.): Storm may very well have a decent game with a good matchup against the Browns, but I’m giving up on the Jags’ running game until they show me more. The problem is the offensive line, and I don’t trust anyone running behind it. I’d sit Storm.
RB Terrance West, CLE (Wk. 7: @Jax.): He’s now 3rd in the pecking order in the Browns’ backfield and Crowell is separating himself. He needs an injury ahead of him to even be rostered in redraft leagues right now. He just won’t get enough work to play.
RB Darrin Reaves, CAR (Wk. 7: @GB): Even with the other Panthers’ runners out, Reaves hasn't been much of a factor. The Panthers have found something with Cam running the ball again, and Jonathan Stewart might be back this week. I wouldn't consider Reaves this week.
RB Carlos Hyde, SF (Wk. 7: @Den.): The way to beat Denver is to pound the ball on the ground and keep it away from Peyton Manning, but Gore will continue to see the lion’s share of the work. The Broncos don’t often play from behind, so it’s hard to bank on the game flow getting Hyde involved. Keep him on the pine this week.
RB Juwan Thompson, DEN (Wk. 7: vs. SF): Hillman did plenty last week to earn the top spot in the Denver backfield while Montee Ball is out and possibly beyond. Against a plus defense like San Francisco’s, there just won’t be enough fantasy points to go around for Juwan Thompson.
RB Tre Mason, STL (Wk. 7: vs. Sea.): Mason had a couple of nice plays in his NFL debut on Monday night, but you know better than to play a running back who faces the Seahawks when they’re coming off a loss. The Seahawks will be playing focused and angry football, and Mason isn’t even the starter.
WRs Allen Hurns & Marqise Lee, JAX (Wk. 7: vs. Cle.): Hurns’s targets are falling off with Cecil Shorts back, and Lee is still working to crack into the rotation at wide receiver. Both guys should be out of your fantasy lineup this week.
TE Eric Ebron, DET (Wk. 7: vs. NO): Ebron’s comparison coming into the draft was Jimmy Graham. Who knows better how to defend that type of player than the Saints? They've allowed a league-low 4 points per game to opposing tight ends, and Ebron has already been under-performing with Calvin out. Don’t start Ebron this week.
Deep League Sleepers:
QB Zach Mettenberger, TEN (Wk. 7: @Was.): Jake Locker’s status is in doubt yet again this week, and “Checkdown” Charlie Whitehurst hasn’t exactly lit the world on fire in his stead. If Mettenberger gets the start, he’s a sneaky good QB2 option going against the worst QB defense in the league. Keep an eye on the situation if you have an issue at QB2.
RB Lorenzo Taliaferro, BAL (Wk. 7: vs. Atl.): Zo has become a forgotten man in Baltimore as Bernard Pierce has returned to the mix, but I think he gets more involved this week and is a sneaky flex play against the awful Falcons’ defense. Forsett is still the top option, but I certainly like Taliaferro over Pierce this week. The Falcons allow 27.5 RB fantasy points per game.
RB James White, NE (Wk. 7: vs. NYJ): The Jets run defense has had some issues the past two weeks after being dominant prior to that, and the Pats’ backfield is in flux with Stevan Ridley done for the year. Brandon Bolden is the favorite to take over Ridley’s role, but White and preseason standout Jonas Gray could factor in as well. White was active for the first time last week, and was always a good pass blocker at Wisconsin, which is important at this level. It’s hard to trust White this week, but he’s a nice stash option in deeper leagues.
RB Damian Williams, MIA (Wk. 7: @Chi.): It’s still not clear who the number 2 runner is in Miami with Knowshon done for the year. Williams beat out Daniel Thomas for a roster spot in the preseason, but Thomas ran ahead of him in week 4 against Oakland. Williams could be worth a stash in deep leagues if he runs ahead of Thomas this week.
WR John Brown, ARI (Wk. 7: @Oak.): Brown has been forgotten by most since his 2 TD game against the 49ers, but with Carson Palmer back, Brown should be a sneaky flex play against the Raiders in deeper leagues. Palmer re-established Michael Floyd and Larry Fitzgerald last week, taking the focus off Brown again (even he had 4 catches for 43 in week 6), and I like his chances of finding the end zone this week. There’s a lot of bust risk, but Brown has shown himself to be a play-maker.
That’s all I’ve got for this week. Hopefully it helps you find fantasy victory in week 7. As always, good luck, trust your gut, and have fun. It’s just a game.
- Details
- Written by David Biggs
Each week in the NFL brings new surprises and disappointments to our fantasy teams. Staying ahead of this stuff is one way to forge and maintain a quality team and get them to the all-important playoffs! Here are some important blurbs along with their associated analyses that may clue you in on some important information before your opponents!
Joe Flacco secured a spot in the record books when he passed for 5 touchdowns faster than any other QB in NFL history. He may have thrown some more later in the game if it hadn't devolved to a blowout against the Bucs, finishing with a score of 48-17. Including this week's stats (21 for 29, 306 yards, 5 passing TD's), Flacco is now the #8 fantasy QB overall in standard scoring leagues. Looking ahead to his Week 7 match-up with the Atlanta Falcons, Flacco provides a tantalizing value for a QB that is still only owned in 51% of Yahoo leagues. The Falcons have consistently had one of the worst passing defenses in the league so far this season, allowing an average of 278 yards per game so far. Interestingly enough, they've only allowed 6 TD's through the air this year though.. I believe this can be explained by the 12 TD's that they have given up on the ground - seems it's no problem for teams to pass the football down to the redzone against the Falcons, and then most of them tend to run it in. So, will Flacco finish the year as a top 10 QB? With Torrey Smith's breakout game last week will the Smith & Smith combo stay productive on a weekly basis? Is Flacco a good play in Week 7 against the Falcons, or will most of the TD's stay on the ground?
Andre Holmes had a standout performance against the San Diego Chargers (who had previously had one of the league's best passing defenses and been one of the more consistent fantasy defenses) with 4 receptions for 121 yards and 2 TD's. With that game, he leads the Raiders with 20 targets over the last two games. New interim head coach Tony Sparano seems to have put a spark into the Raiders' offense and Derek Carr has been playing fairly well by limiting turnovers (though he could have a better completion percentage - last week he was only 18-of-34). The other relevant receiver from the Raiders is James Jones, who caught 5-of-7 targets for 56 yards and 1 TD in Week 6. He has quietly put up consistently good numbers all year, cementing him as the #24 WR overall in standard scoring leagues while only being owned in 38% of Yahoo leagues. The only receiver who has performed better overall while being owned by less teams is Malcolm Floyd at #20 overall and owned by only 24% of teams. Pretty impressive performances by each of them so far this season and they don't look to slow down anytime soon. Both are solid grabs on the waiver wire this week before people realize what's going on!
Knowshon Moreno just went on the IR, after apparently tearing his ACL during the game against the Packers in Week 6. We knew that he was a dicey start, but didn't catch anything about this while watching the game until it popped up on Twitter. Ouch, Knowshon.. Well, moving on - right? With Moreno out for the year (and maybe moving on to a new uniform next season), Lamar Miller will keep his spot as the Dolphin's lead back. He's been no slouch in that role, either, grading out as the #14 RB overall in standard scoring leagues with 400+ all-purpose yards and 4 TD's so far. Owned in 88% of Yahoo leagues, you probably can't scoop him up of the wire at this point but he should be an every-week RB2 start now - especially going up against the Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars in Weeks 7 and 8, respectively. Both teams are giving up over 100 yards rushing per game.
- Details
- Written by Jason Evans
Week 6 brought us lots of good times. We saw another shut out, we saw a stupid tie, tons of TD's from Joe Flacco and an impressive 4th quarter win by the Packers.
- The Bengals can win or lose with grace, but a tie? Sometimes kissing your sister is really going to piss you off. After a game the featured Vontaze Burfict apparently trying to injure Cam Newton after a tackle, CB Adam Jones (nee Pacman) called out his kicker for missing the game winning field goal at the end of OT. Yes, a 38 yard FG should be a sure thing for an NFL kicker, but mayyyybe you don't want to point fingers after you gave up 37 points to a team with no RB's and no WR's.
- Yes sir, those Cowboys look like they're for real this year. We'll see what the second half of the season has in store for them, but so far their ground game has pounded almost all comers into submission. The latest victim? None other than the reigning champs and their stellar defense. But do not worry, Demarco Murray has no fear. He tied Jim Brown's record of 6 games with 100 yards or more to start a season. Murray leads the league in almost every rushing stat and as we've said before, ride this wave as long as it will go! Keep giving Murray the ball, PLEASE!
- Jordan Reed has returned to the Redskins lineup. It's not always apparent who will succeed at TE in Washington (usually it's Reed), what is certain is that there's tons of production to be had at the tight end position in that offense. As long as one of them can stay healthy, they will be an excellent streaming or low end TE1 option the rest of the season.
- Victor Cruz is done for the season and this opens up the gates for Randle and Beckham Jr. to break out in a big way. The biggest issue with this is trying to figure out when the good Giants will show up. Maybe they just ran into a hot defense last night, but an offense that puts up exactly zero points is one to be wary of, for sure. Randle and Beckham Jr. should be a match-up dependent WR3 for the rest of the year (home games should be good, for example) with very high upside if one of them really develops quickly with Eli Manning.
- Kicking for Detroit has not been easy this season. The Lions are a measly 5 for 15 kicking field goals which includes an astonishing 2 for 12 from 40+ yards. Matt Prater may be the answer for their kicking woes, but he only went 1 for 3 outdoors in Minneapolis. Conditions will be optimum indoors in Detroit, of course, and the Lions are fully behind Prater as their guy. I'd view this game as nothing more than return jitters and he'll be a great fantasy option going forward.
- Joe Flacco went nuts in the first half of the game yesterday, throwing for 5 TD's in the first 16 minutes of the game. After that fifth touchdown pass, the Bucs win probability dropped to 0.0%. Flacco did not even attempt a pass in the 4th quarter. Now the 7th highest scoring QB, he's doing better than the likes of Matthew Stafford, Tony Romo and Cam Newton.
- Running backs continue to be one of the more volatile commodities. Only 19 RB's scored 10 or more points, among them such names as Theo Riddick, Antone Smith, Isaiah Crowell and Fozzy Whittaker. This just goes to show that maybe picking the big time WR's makes more sense, as they are much more likely to perform on a consistent basis. Just 7 of the top 25 RB's this week would have been considered high round picks this year.
- Wide Receivers are much more consistent, with 31 of them scoring in double digits. Only a few more, about 10 or so out of the top 25 are high draft picks. Maybe what all of this is showing is that while WR's might be more consistent, the best bet is to be playing the waiver wire as best you can. For example, a look at the top WR's in the drinkfive league shows that 10 of those WR's out of the top 25 are available on the waiver wire.
- Minnesota seems to be tipping in the favor of Jerick McKinnon already. This week, McKinnon had 17 touches and got 82 yards total. Matt Asiata, on the other hand, had had 2 carries for -5 yards and 1 rec for 18 yards. This is a huge departure from his 20 or so touches per game over the last 4 games. McKinnon is clearly the man going forward and it looks like his coaches are in agreement.
- Finally, a look at the Tight Ends. Only 7 TE's scored in the double digits, three of those being free agents in the drinkfive leage. At least one thing can be said about drafting TE's, 5 of the top 10 drafted TE's were in the top 10 this week (not including Jimmy Graham). Keep an eye out for Jordan Reed and Scott Chandler on the waiver wire going forward.